Addison Rae’s rise to main pop girl status is equal parts masterclass and modern spectacle. Having started on TikTok as one of the platform’s top users known for choreographing brief dances to catchy hits, Rae always had her sights set on a bigger stage. In the past year, she performed with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan at the Sweat Tour, then at Coachella where she unveiled her debut album’s release date by writing “June 6” on her underwear. Now, nearly a year after the release of her hit single “Diet Pepsi,” that date has arrived. Across the album’s 12 tracks, there are two interludes and zero features; all songs were co-written by Rae alongside Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd. Rae’s website states that this is “the first and last album by Addison Rae,” making it a potential one-and-done project. Yet the album feels immediately iconic—a vulnerable, self-aware collection that proves Rae is one of one among pop’s current crew.
Below, we rank all 12 tracks, from the lesser interludes to the undeniable bangers.
12. “Lost & Found Interlude”
The opening notes of this interlude are distinctly similar to those of “Aquamarine,” but the sun-kissed energy is replaced by moody synths. Rae’s repeated sentiment “I lost myself and found myself again” echoes off the production, soon giving way to booming, layered chanting. It proves the pop star is unafraid to get introspective, even if only briefly.
11. “Life’s No Fun Interlude”
A siren-like voice echoes “Life’s no fun through clear waters” over a string section, plucking a lyric straight from “Headphones On.” Arriving as the second-to-last track, it serves as a reminder of the album’s motto: this should be fun. The whole album acts as a reminder that the plot isn’t perfection—how boring would that be?
10. “Summer Forever”
It feels like a given to include a track called “Summer Forever” on an album arriving at the top of June. Rae’s breezy vocals and minimal, immersive production are perfect for a summer day well spent. If pitched down, this could easily be a Lana Del Rey song, capturing that summertime sadness vibe.
9. “High Fashion”
“Have you ever dreamt of being seen? Not by someone, more like in a magazine,” Rae opens the album’s third single. She rejects passing thrills—drugs and cheap love—in pursuit of a look worthy enough. It’s not her most complicated song, but a pop hit can hang its hat on thumping bass and a deep love for couture.
8. “In The Rain”
One of the more subdued, airy songs, “In the Rain” offers a glimpse behind the layers of tulle. “Young dumb and cute nothing to lose,” she sings, before concluding “Misunderstood but I’m not gonna sweat it.” The writing stands out as some of Rae’s most vulnerable, and its placement between similar-sounding tracks is smart for a song about being inconspicuous.
7. “Times Like These”
This track is like the angrier, more honest sister to “In the Rain.” It’s almost as if crying in the rain didn’t solve anything, so a few songs later Rae revisits the same wounds. “Am I too young to be this mad? Am I too old to blame my dad?” she wonders aloud. Consider this a warning: Rae’s most tender tracks hit hardest.
6. “Money Is Everything”
Perhaps more than anywhere else on the album, “Money Is Everything” calls back to the bubblegum-pop fun of Rae’s 2023 EP AR. She draws comparisons to Marilyn Monroe, requests Madonna at the DJ booth, and fantasizes about a perfect night out with the pop girlies. Her outro shriek of “Money loves me!” just may take the cake.
5. “New York”
The hustle and bustle of New York City isn’t for everyone, but those who get it just get it. On the album’s opener, Rae adds to the canon of love letters to the Big Apple with a track primed for the dance floor. She’s moving at a pace to make any New Yorker proud, hardly stopping to drop her bags at the Bowery Hotel. It’s a perfect tone-setter: don’t get too comfortable, because like the city, she’ll keep you on your toes.
4. “Aquamarine”
When “Aquamarine” arrived, it felt obvious that this is what an Addison Rae album would sound like: glittering, confident, and dance-floor ready. But in the context of the album, it’s actually an outlier. “I’m not hiding anymore,” Rae sings. “I’m free.” While it’s not the only time she sings of freedom, much of the album is about feeling the opposite on her road to liberation.
3. “Fame Is A Gun”
It’s deeply admirable how consistent Rae is about her proclivity toward fame throughout the album. “Nothing makes me feel as good as being loved by you,” she sings in one of her most honest moments. She lets the spotlight steer her, implores it for its lustrous shine, and eliminates any doubt about her right to exist within it.
2. “Headphones On”
Ending the debut album with “Headphones On” is pure brilliance. It’s an ode to music as an escape—arguably one of the most relatable sentiments. Closing an album steeped in trauma with a song about accepting the pain proves Rae is more self-aware than she gets credit for. The track includes self-referential lines like “life’s no fun through clear waters,” which gets its own interlude, and “soaking up the rain,” a nod to “In the Rain.” Addison Rae knows exactly what she’s doing.
1. “Diet Pepsi”
Nine months later and “Diet Pepsi” is still as refreshing as ever. It demonstrates how well Rae has her finger on the pulse of pop today, with a punchy hook ready to wrap around your brain for days. It winks at the listener enough to know Rae is in on the bit, but not so self-indulgent that it feels corny. The rest of the album proves the nuance in her artistry, but fans would happily take a dozen mainstream fastballs. With “Diet Pepsi” bubbling back to the forefront thanks to the album’s arrival, don’t expect it to fizzle anytime soon.
Rae’s debut is a confident, vulnerable statement from an artist who has been listening carefully. Now it’s the listener’s turn to do the same.
Source:Yahoo Entertainment News